Sport|Africa Cup of NationsMorocco beat Nigeria on penalties to set up AFCON final with SenegalMorocco overcome Nigeria 4-2 on penalties, after the match finished 0-0 following extra time, to reach AFCON final.

In a recent Africa Cup of Nations semifinal held in Rabat, Morocco defeated Nigeria 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw. Yassine Bounou saved two penalties, and Youssef En-Nesyri scored the decisive penalty.

Morocco will compete against Senegal, the 2021 champions, in the final on Sun, Jan 17, 2026, while Nigeria will play Egypt in the third-place playoff on Sat, Jan 16, 2026.

The match witnessed limited scoring opportunities during the 120 minutes of play, with Morocco creating more chances but being denied by Nigeria's goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Despite having the best scoring record in the tournament, Nigeria offered minimal offensive threats.

Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi's penalties were saved during the shootout, reflecting Nigeria's lack of ambition in their performance. Morocco displayed a workmanlike and efficient approach throughout the competition, although they have yet to reach their peak form.

Morocco is on the verge of securing their first continental title since 1976, facing a challenging opponent in Senegal, who recently defeated Egypt 1-0 in the first semifinal.

During the match, Achraf Hakimi's corner presented a chance for Ayoub El Kaabi, but the opportunity was missed. Morocco's Ismael Saibari also demonstrated skill in creating a shooting chance, but his effort was saved by Nwabali.

Nayef Aguerd's header from a corner hit the post, and as the match progressed, penalties seemed likely before the 120 minutes concluded. Bounou's saves and En-Nesyri's decisive penalty secured Morocco's place in the final, marking their first final appearance since 2004.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.